Structural and energetic characteristics of silicas modified by organosilicon compounds

Silica gels Davisil 633 and 643, and fumed silica Cab-O-Sil HS-5 with grafted 3-aminopropyl dimethylsilyl (APDMS), butyl dimethylsilyl (BDMS), octadecyl dimethylsilyl (ODDMS), and trimethylsilyl (TMS) groups of different concentrations were studied using the nitrogen adsorption method. Changes in the textural and energetic characteristics of modified silicas depend on features of the oxide matrices and grafted OSC.     

Formulation and acoustic studies of a new phase-shift agent for diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound

Recent efforts in the area of acoustic droplet vaporization with the objective of designing extravascular ultrasound contrast agents has led to the development of stabilized, lipid-encapsulated nanodroplets of the highly volatile compound decafluorobutane (DFB). We developed two methods of generating DFB droplets, the first of which involves condensing DFB gas (boiling point from -1.1 to -2 °C) followed by extrusion with a lipid formulation in HEPES buffer. Acoustic droplet vaporization of micrometer-sized lipid-coated droplets at diagnostic ultrasound frequencies and mechanical indices were confirmed optically. In our second formulation methodology, we demonstrate the formulation of submicrometer-sized lipid-coated nanodroplets based upon condensation of preformed microbubbles containing DFB. The droplets are routinely in the 200-300 nm range and yield microbubbles on the order of 1-5 μm once vaporized, consistent with ideal gas law expansion predictions. The simple and effective nature of this methodology allows for the development of a variety of different formulations that can be used for imaging, drug and gene delivery, and therapy. This study is the first to our knowledge to demonstrate both a method of generating ADV agents by microbubble condensation and formulation of primarily submicrometer droplets of decafluorobutane that remain stable at physiological temperatures. Finally, activation of DFB nanodroplets is demonstrated using pressures within the FDA guidelines for diagnostic imaging, which may minimize the potential for bioeffects in humans. This methodology offers a new means of developing extravascular contrast agents for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.     

High-speed, clinical-scale microfluidic generation of stable phase-change droplets for gas embolotherapy

In this study we report on a microfluidic device and droplet formation regime capable of generating clinical-scale quantities of droplet emulsions suitable in size and functionality for in vivo therapeutics. By increasing the capillary number-based on the flow rate of the continuous outer phase-in our flow-focusing device, we examine three modes of droplet breakup: geometry-controlled, dripping, and jetting. Operation of our device in the dripping regime results in the generation of highly monodisperse liquid perfluoropentane droplets in the appropriate 3-6 μm range at rates exceeding 10(5) droplets per second. Based on experimental results relating droplet diameter and the ratio of the continuous and dispersed phase flow rates, we derive a power series equation, valid in the dripping regime, to predict droplet size, D(d) approximately equal 27(Q(C)/Q(D))(-5/12). The volatile droplets in this study are stable for weeks at room temperature yet undergo rapid liquid-to-gas phase transition, and volume expansion, above a uniform thermal activation threshold. The opportunity exists to potentiate locoregional cancer therapies such as thermal ablation and percutaneous ethanol injection using thermal or acoustic vaporization of these monodisperse phase-change droplets to intentionally occlude the vessels of a cancer.     

Characteristics of modified Cab-O-Sil in aqueous media

Fumed silica Cab-O-Sil HS-5 grafted with 3-aminopropyldimethylsilyl (APDMS), butyldimethylsilyl (BDMS), octadecyldimethylsilyl (ODDMS), and trimethylsilyl (TMS) groups of different concentrations were studied using photon correlation spectroscopy, electrophoresis, potentiometric titration, and nitrogen adsorption methods. Calculations of both electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential were performed taking into consideration the topological structure of "porous" aggregates of primary particles of fumed silica using two different approaches. Changes in surface charge density and the textural, aggregative, and electrophoretic characteristics of modified silicas depend on the type of grafted OSC, its chain length, polarity, and surface concentration. Particle swarms of initial and modified silicas in aqueous suspension are typically characterized by bimodal size distributions between 20 and 300 nm (aggregates) and 1-3 microm (agglomerates of aggregates). The difference between parameter values computed according to the Smoluchowski theory and improved approaches increases with increasing pH and is concordant for both mobility and zeta potential.